I understand people install 5100s for the purpose of leveling the truck or lifting it. How would a shock do that if its only there to absorb shocks aren't the springs what hold up the weight ? Wouldn't it make sense to install a bigger or stiffer spring to lift it ?

Gotta understand how the 5100s work. There is an adjustable collar that can be put in the "stock" position or slid up the shock tube for lift. That collar is where the spring sits...so moving the collar up puts the spring higher on the shock and preloads it more than stock to provide the complete lift.

They don't with the 5100 you get the lift from lifting the position of the bottom of the spring higher, preloading the spring, therefore pulling the shock rod out of the shock body. For example using the eibach 1.6" lift springs, the springs are longer which provides the lift. With the additional spring length you have to have the rod come from the body a certain amont to accommodate the longer spring.

Allin all its the postition of the spring or the length of the spring, or stiffness that lifts the truck not the shock. Shocks only job is to damper

I understand people install 5100s for the purpose of leveling the truck or lifting it. How would a shock do that if its only there to absorb shocks aren't the springs what hold up the weight ? Wouldn't it make sense to install a bigger or stiffer spring to lift it ?

Sorry if this is an ignorant question...

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first off the shock absorbers (ironically) dont absorb the shock... the springs do... the shocks make it so the spring doesnt bounce back hard...

and theres a collar on the shock that you can set it to the height you want

Ya no problem man. It was amazing to me when I changed out the rear shocks to 5100 that you don't need to do anything to the back to change them. You can have the truck sitting on the ground, unbolt the stock shocks and then just install the new ones, mind boggled me haha

I read in the sticky that you shouldn't use an aftermarket spring with the 5100s...why not?

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Think of it this way. If you go one way with something you wanna stick with products that are made to work with each other. So you get ome lift springs then to get the most out of the suspension you will want to run the shocks that were designed for that specific spring

I read in the sticky that you shouldn't use an aftermarket spring with the 5100s...why not?

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The "no aftermarket springs with the 5100s" is more don't use the springs with the adjustable collar higher than stock.

The most aftermarket springs have different spring rates and lengths than the stock springs. If you pre-load them with the adjustable collar, you will make the springs overly stiff and can damage your suspension/driveline components. Use the aftermarket springs with the collar at the "stock" location- Good to go.